Who’s Keeping Score?
Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love . . . keeps no record of when it has been wronged. 1 Corinthians 13:5
Dear God,
It’s been three years since my parents’ divorce. I have tried to be patient with you on this one. I know you have a plan and that I just can’t see it. Still, I wish things were different. I wish my parents were together.
Last month I went to visit my dad. He hasn’t changed much. Sure, he likes to buy me things. Doesn’t he know that I’ll love him no matter what he does? He doesn’t have to buy me things. And then he starts yelling about Mom. None of the things he says about Mom are true. He used to tell me that true love could weather any storm. I guess true love couldn’t weather his storms. I haven’t heard from him since I got home, not even a quick phone call. Give me the strength to love my dad, God, even when he lets me down. I know he needs love as badly as anyone.
And you know that Mom is no easier for me to love. She doesn’t care about my life. Whenever I try to talk to her, she doesn’t listen. She just keeps right on working. She says she’s doing it for me. Yeah, right. If she wanted to do something for me, she would get back together with Dad and listen to me when I talk to her. Oh God, give me the strength to love my mom even when she disappoints me.
You see each time my parents let me down, Lord. Help me to stay faithful to you, and help me to love my mom and dad. I know it is what you want, so I want it too.
Love, LeShona
You can see in those words the heart of a girl who loves God and others more than herself. How can you tell? Because LeShona is way more concerned about loving her parents than about their failure to love her. That’s the kind of love Jesus came to earth to show us. He didn’t keep score of the hurts he suffered. He loved everyone just the way they were. He even asked his Father to forgive the people who crucified him (see Luke 23:34).
Your situation might not be as bad as LeShona’s. On the other hand, it might be a lot worse. Either way, Christ calls you to love as he loves, focusing on how you can love others—not on how others have failed to love you. If Jesus can love the people who sent him to the Cross, he obviously can help us love people who fail us.
TALK: What would your life look like if you didn’t keep track of when people hurt you?
PRAY: Talk to God today about people you have a hard time loving.
ACT: Is there anyone you’ve been holding a grudge against? How would you like to show Jesus’ kind of love toward them?